Connecticut Tennis Splits the Day Against Villanova on SaturdayWomen win 6-1; Men lose 4-3

Co-captain Joey Michaels was one of three Connecticut seniors honored in the team's final regular season home match.

April 11, 2009

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. - Both the University of Connecticut men's and women's tennis teams were in action on Saturday facing Villanova in a match relocated to the East Hartford Tennis Club due to the steady rain in Storrs. The Huskies split the day with the Wildcats as the women lost the doubles point in their 6-1 victory. The men's tennis team also lost the doubles point to Villanova, losing the match 4-3.

Prior to the start of the match, UConn's three seniors were acknowledged for their contributions to the program in the last four years. Each served as team captains this season, as the Connecticut coaches honored seniors BreAnn Cheung (Tucson, Ariz.) Joey Michaels (Rochester Hills, Mich.) and Ben Schueler (Arlington, Mass.).

Three-set matches no longer proved to be a problem for the women's team with Kelly LoRusso (Shoreham, N.Y.) and Alison Campitiello (Staten Island, N.Y.) each winning in three at first and second singles.

After falling in doubles play, the Huskies regained control of the match in singles. In addition to LoRusso and Campitiello's significant victories, Cheung, Emily Herb (Cherry Hill, N.J. ) and Katie Moritz (York, Pa.) each took at least one 6-1 set from their Wildcat competitors.

Cheung, at No. 3, won the first set 6-3 before holding Courtney Reed to one in the final. Herb and Moritz each earned their victories with 6-1, 6-4 decisions at No. 4 and No. 5 singles, respectively.

Alexa Gregory (State College, Pa.) took the win in sixth singles in a match shortened due to the Huskies insurmountable advantage.

"After losing the doubles point, I was unsure how the team would respond," head coach Glenn Marshall said. "It turns out, the team came out fired up in singles and was able to close out all six singles matches. This should qualify us for the BIG EAST Championships in Tampa next week."

For the men, losing the doubles point was all it took to fall 4-3 to Villanova. The matches were close, especially Joe Goldstein (Tucson, Ariz.) and Schueler at No. 1 with a 9-8 loss to Dave Lesser and John Drosick.

Andrew Marcus (Potomac, Md.) recovered from a 6-1 loss in the first set to take the second 7-6 over Brian Maher. Marcus took the win with a 6-1 victory in the third set.

At No. 1, Goldstein won in two sets, 6-2, 6-4 over Lesser. Tom Cook (Pittsford, N.Y.) won his sixth singles match by default.

"When we lost the doubles point, we knew it was going to be a struggle to win," Marshall said. "It turns out the doubles point was the determining fact. They were a little bit tougher than us, and it showed. I hope we can get some revenge on them next week at the BIG EAST Championships. We are playing them in the opening round on Thursday."

Entering next weekend's BIG EAST Championships the men's tennis team concluded the season with an 8-6 overall record and posted a 6-5 mark this spring. The women's team ends the spring with a 7-10 record and an even 6-6 mark against BIG EAST competitors.